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NOTE 23 January 2014: New posts are no longer posted to this blog. New stuff at my new blog, http://urbanadventureleague.wordpress.com/ Please go there! All old and new posts are there, and you can also comment, too!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Medium is the (Ambiguous) Message

Yeah, I know. Modifying Stop Signs is soooo 2002. You know what I mean: someone throws a sticker or spraypaints a saying underneath the "Stop" so it means something else. I've been partial to the "Stop Hammertime" sign.

(Man, I bet Hammer wishes he could copyright this. Imagine all the money he could be making!)

But this one spotted at SE 27th and Taylor made me stop and take notice.

"Stop Peddling."

I stood there, puzzled for a moment. But what does it mean?

Are they referring to the hill in the distance, imploring us two wheeled folks to coast? It's a short but good li'l 8% or so grade. Nothing like a good li'l coast every now and again, no matter what Saint Sheldon says.

Or is this a challenge to fixie riders? Just take your feet off the pedals for this hill, kids!

The hill in question.

Or are they anti-bicycle? Maybe.

But these scenarios would make some sense if the sign read "Stop Pedaling." Instead it implores us to "Stop Peddling." As in, sell stuff.

Has there been a spate of door-to-door salespeople using bikes? Or sketchy looking guys in hoodies on BMXs moving some "dank" in the 'hood?

I am confused.

Also: Brakes stop a bicycle wheel. You better hope they don't break when you use them.

Very aggressive Girl Scouts -- terrorizing the neighborhood, riding right through flowerbeds, scaring household pets. They will not stop until every last box of Thin Mints has been sold from their plastic wicker handlebar baskets.

About Me

I was born and bred in the diminutive State of Connecticut and have been living in Portland, Oregon, Cascadia, for a decade. I'm an "artist" (aka bohemian that occasionally draws) and used to work for a hostel. I've been drawing the mini-comic TEN FOOT RULE since 1996, which is a very long time in mini-comic years! I do a lot of flyer/poster art for various projects in Portland and around the world. I'm involved with the bicycle community in town and ride almost everywhere (don't own no car!) I love bike touring! I live with my sweetie April somewhere in the mysterious reaches of SE Portland.